We here at Sports of Boston are looking back at the year that was in 2009, and will be issuing honors for Boston’s Player of the Year, Game of the Year, and Story of the Year, in the 2009 Sports of Boston Awards Show. In 2008’s inaugural Show, one of the most painful losses in Boston sports history was honored, as the Giants ended the perfect season and took down the Patriots in our 2008 Game of the Year.

In 2009, the Celtics and Chicago Bulls locked horns in an epic playoff series that was the clear winner of the 2009 Game(s) of the Year award. I say “games” because it was hard to pick just one game without including the rest of the series. Remarkably, the Celtics won the series 4-3 without Kevin Garnett.

Referee makes bizarre call in fourth quater, awards Ben Gordon (33 points) an extra point from a shot he took in the first half

Wow.

Celtics/Bulls Supporters

“One of the greatest series’ I’ve ever watched. With so many games going down until the final shot it was a series for the ages. It almost felt like it was the NBA Finals. The roller-coaster ride of a series pulled in fans from all sides, making it even more thrilling.” – SoB’s Chris

“It is impossible to single out just one game of this historical series. The only way to judge it is on a whole.

The Celtics, playing without Kevin Garnett, were pushed to the absolute limit by a younger and faster Bulls team. In a seven game series,a league record four games went to overtime, including the epic 3OT game 6 (where Ray Allen scored 51 points) that was won by Chicago and forced a game 7. After all of the overtime games, Boston was victorious 109-99 in game 7 to advance to the semi-finals.

The series was a statement by the young Bulls squad, who showed that they could hang with the defending champs and it gave them the opportunity to showcase the future of the NBA in arguably the greatest playoff series of all time.” – SoB’s Pete

Runner-Up

Celtics vs. Magic: Game 5

“With the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Orlando Magic tied at 2-2, the Boston Celtics needed an unlikely hero to lead them to a victory in Game 5 and Glen Davis did just that. With 22 points and 7 rebounds, Big Baby led the Celtics from 14-down in the fourth quarter to a 92-88 victory and 3-2 series lead.” – SoB’s Erikk